2,000 rental flats to be built for lower-income families

These flats on Spooner Road in the Tanjong Pagar area, which used to house employees of Malaysia's railway operator, will be converted into rental flats and offered for selection next month. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

By Daryl Chin

Some 2,000 rental flats are being built to meet the housing needs of lower-income families. These units will be located in Punggol, Sembawang, Yishun, Bukit Batok and Sengkang, and are part of the Government's promise last year to have a total of 57,000 rental flats by 2015.

A Housing Board spokesman on Tuesday said construction of the 2,000 units will begin by next year.

"These flats are expected to be ready for occupation progressively from 2014," she said.

Public rental flats, meant to be the final housing safety net, cost tenants $26 to $275 monthly, depending on income, and come in one-room and two-room options.